Water supply system for multiple dwelling units

ABSTRACT

A water supply system for an apartment complex can include individual hot water conduits and cold water conduits for each apartment. Each conduit includes a water meter that enables the owner of the apartment complex to accurately determine the hot water usage and cold water usage of each apartment tenant. The meter system can also be used to locate leakage points in the water supply system, e.g. dripping faucets or continuously running toilets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a water supply system for multipledwelling units, e.g. individual apartment units in a multi-apartmentbuilding.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In many present day apartment buildings a central hot water isemployed for supplying hot water to the various individual dwellingunits (apartments). One problem for the building owner is that it isdifficult to know, or determine, the hot water consumption for eachindividual apartment. One apartment occupant might use a relativelylarge quantity of hot water, while another apartment occupant might usesubstantially less hot water. This is somewhat unfair to those apartmentresidents that tend to economize on hot water usage.

[0003] A somewhat similar situation exists with regard to cold waterconsumption. Usually the cold water coming into the building passesthrough a single water meter before it is distributed to various branchlines leading to the various apartment units. Some of the cold water issent to the central water heater, where it is heated before beingdistributed to the apartment units. Most of the incoming cold water issent directly from the single water meter to the various points of usage(primarily the apartment units). The main meter at the building waterintake provides information only on the cold water flow into thebuilding. The meter is used by the water utility company as a basis forbilling the building owner for the total water usage by all the buildingtenants and cannot be used as a basis for determining individual tenantusage of cold or hot water.

[0004] In addition to the “individual tenant water usage” problem, thereis also a problem relating to water leakage. In a multi-apartmentbuilding it can be difficult for the building owner to detect waterleakage in any particular apartment unit. As a practical matter, thebuilding owner or building superintendent cannot go freely or at willinto every apartment, on a daily or weekly basis, to inspect thefaucets, shower heads, toilets, etc., for slow leakage. Unless anindividual apartment tenant reports a leakage condition, the leak canremain undetected for a considerable length of time. Such leakage ofwater (particularly hot water) can represent a considerable economicloss over time, to the building owner and/or to the building tenants (inthe form of higher rents). Water leakage can also be an environmentalconcern, since the total water resource of the country is, to a certainextent finite and limited.

[0005] The present invention is concerned with a multi-apartment watersupply system designed to eliminate or minimize the above-describedproblems, i.e. the problem of determining water consumption inindividual apartment units, and the problem of pinpointing or locatingwater leakage points (i.e. in particular apartment units).

[0006] A water supply system of the present invention includes theconventional water meter at the building water intake point, as well asancillary water meters located in the cold and hot water supply conduitsfor the individual apartment units.

[0007] Each ancillary water meter provides the building owner withinformation on cold water consumption and hot water consumption by eachapartment tenant. By comparing the visual readouts of the variousancillary water meters, the building owner (or operator) can determinewhich tenants are using relatively small amounts of water (hot or cold).Each tenant can be billed for his individual water usage.

[0008] The visual readouts of the ancillary water meters can also beused to pinpoint water leakage points in the building. For example, bykeeping daily records of individual apartment water consumption, it ispossible to ascertain graduated increases in water consumptionassociated with continuous water leakage, e.g. a continually drippingfaucet or toilet that does not shut off. Daily water consumption thatabruptly increases from a normal steady state value is an indication ofa potential leaking water condition.

[0009] In another scenario, each ancillary water meter can be calibratedto measure very small water flow rates associated with water leakageconditions. By viewing an indicator needle or reading on a properlycalibrated water meter, it is possible to detect the leakage flow, e.g.if the low rate-of-flow indication on the meter readout is always moving(i.e. never motionless) there is an indication that one or more of thewater consumption devices in the respective apartment is leaking. Theperson viewing the meter readout can ascertain the leaking conditionwithout actually going into the apartment.

[0010] Specific features of the invention will be apparent from theattached drawing and description of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a water supply system constructedaccording o the invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view taken of a water meter assembly that can beemployed in the FIG. 1 water supply system.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a housing for a pair of water metersof the type shown in FIG. 2.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows another water meter assembly that can be used inpractice of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015]FIG. 1 schematically shows a water supply system for multipledwelling units (apartments) constructed according to the invention. Thewater supply system includes an incoming water line 10 that suppliespotable water to a main water meter 12. Typically, the water meter islocated outside the apartment building. Meter 12 is used by the waterutility company for the purpose of billing the building owner for totalwater used by all apartment tenants.

[0016] In FIG. 1, dashed line 14 designates the demarcation between theboiler area of the building and the other floors of the building.Hardware components located below dashed line 14 would be positioned inthe boiler area of the building. The area above dashed line 14 isoccupied by individual dwelling units referenced by numeral 16. Eachunit represents a specific dwelling unit (or apartment) in the building.The dwelling units depicted in FIG. 1 are merely representative of anynumber of dwelling units that might be located in the building. Forexample, in a typical apartment building having four floors, there mightbe ten apartments per floor, making a total of forty apartments in thebuilding.

[0017] An aim of the invention is to provide a water supply systemwherein the cold water flow and hot water flow to each dwelling unit(apartment) 16 is individually metered, so that the building owner isenabled to know the cold and hot water consumption by each tenant in thebuilding.

[0018] The water supply system depicted in FIG. 1 includes a centralwater heater (or boiler)1 8 that receives a supply of cold water frommain meter 12, via a cold water line 20. The pressurized water heated byheater 18 flows into a header 22 that connects with multiple hot watersupply conduits 24 leading to individual apartment units 16. Eachapartment unit has its own hot water supply conduit 24, that connects tothe common hot water header 22. Conduits 24 are in parallel flowrelation. In FIG. 1, the water flow directions are denoted by arrows.White arrowheads denote cold water flow. Black arrowheads denote hotwater flow.

[0019] Main water meter 12 supplies cold water to a cold water header 26that connects with multiple cold water supply conduits 28 leading toindividual apartment units 16. Each apartment has its own cold watersupply conduit 28, that connects to the common cold water header 26.Conduits 28 are in parallel flow relation.

[0020] The system for distributing hot water to the individual apartmentunits is similar to the system used for distributing cold water to theapartment units, except for the source of the water. In one case, heater18 is the source, whereas in the other case main meter 12 is the watersource.

[0021] Each hot water supply conduit 24 contains, or includes, anancillary water meter 30 that measures water flow through the respectiveconduit. Similarly, each cold water supply conduit 28 contains anancillary water meter 32 that measures water flow through the respectiveconduit. Meters 30 and 32 may be similarly constructed.

[0022] Various meter styles or types can be used for ancillary meters 30and 32. For example, the meter can be a drum type meter that includes arotatable chamber of known volumetric capacity that alternately fillsand empties to produce shaft rotation that can drive a countingmechanism. Alternately, each water meter can be a rotary impeller typeunit. In such a unit, water flowing from an inlet to an outlet is forcedto flow through a rotary impeller. Impeller rotation is related to rateof water flow. A gear system is driven by the impeller shaft to producea visual readout. Typically, the readout includes three or more pointersor wheels that rotate at differential speeds to indicate the digits ofthe total flow value through the meter. The readout can also beelectronic in nature, which facilitates computer tabulation ofindividual tenant water consumption.

[0023] In preferred practice of the invention, the ancillary watermeters 30 and 32 are grouped together in near proximity to eachrespective dwelling unit (16). Alternately the meters can be placed inthe basement or on the roof (not shown) in a single location whereapplicable, so that the readings for the hot water consumption for allapartments (dwelling unit) can be taken together conveniently. In FIG.2, numeral 50 denotes a hot water meter and cold water meter grouping orassembly for one dwelling unit.

[0024] The water supply system shown in FIG. 1 is advantageous in thatthe building owner is able to determine the hot water consumption andcold water consumption for each apartment in the apartment complex. Eachapartment tenant can be accurately billed for the individual waterconsumption, without any estimating or guessing on the part of thebuilding owner.

[0025] The illustrated water supply system is also advantageous in thatthe building operator is enabled to ascertain the location of anymeasurable water leakage without repeatedly visiting each apartment inthe apartment complex. The location of a suspect water leak can beascertained in one or two ways.

[0026] In one scenario, the daily or monthly water consumption recordsfor any particular apartment can be compared, to identify situationswhere the water consumption abruptly increases from a normal steadystate value. An abrupt increase in water consumption (hot or cold water)is an indication of a suspected water leak, e.g. a dripping faucet or atoilet that will not stop running.

[0027] In another, scenario the individual ancillary water meter 30 or32 is calibrated so that one of the readout pointers or wheels 44 (FIG.2) measures a very slow flow rate. If that pointer or wheel movescontinuously (or intermittently on a continuing basis) that is anindication of a leakage condition.

[0028] The drawings show a water supply system wherein the individualwater meters 30 and 32 have visual readouts. However, the invention canalso be practiced where the meter readouts are electronic. By linkingthe meter electronic readouts to a computer, it is possible to let thecomputer make the desired computations and tabulations. The schematicdepicted in FIG. 1 represents a preferred embodiment of the invention.However, the invention can be practiced in various forms andarrangements.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows in somewhat detail, a water supply system embodyingthe FIG. 1 features. FIG. 3 shows the boiler room wall and multipledwelling units on each level (floor) of the building, so that an actualphysical arrangement can be more readily visualized. In all materialrespects the FIG. 3 system is the same as the FIG. 1 system. Asindicated above, the invention can be practiced in various arrangements.

[0030] The individual meter assemblies 50 can be constructed in variousways. FIG. 2 shows a unitary water meter assembly 50, wherein the waterflows horizontally into and out of each water meter. Each meter has ahorizontally oriented inlet pipe 52 and a horizontally oriented outletpipe 54.

[0031]FIG. 4 shows a unitary water meter assembly 50, wherein the waterflows vertically as it approaches and departs the respective meter. Eachwater meter has a vertically oriented inlet pipe 52 and a verticallyoriented outlet pipe 54.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the water meter assembly is located in a wallbetween two vertical wall studs 56, 56. The exterior wall panel 58 hasan opening 59 that enables a person to scan the water readout 44. Ahinged door (not shown) would normally close opening 59. Wall panel 58would usually form one wall of an exterior hallway at the entrance toeach dwelling unit, such that the person can take water meter readingswithout going into the dwelling unit.

What is claimed:
 1. A water supply system for multiple dwelling units inan apartment building comprising a cold water source that includes amain water meter, a water heater receiving cold water from said mainwater meter, a hot water supply conduit for each dwelling unit, and acold water supply conduit for each dwelling unit; each said supplyconduit having an ancillary water meter therein for measuring water flowthrough the respective conduit; each said hot water supply conduit beingconnected to said hot water heater so that the hot water supply conduitsare in parallel flow relation, each said cold water supply conduit beingconnected to said main water meter so that the cold water supplyconduits are in parallel flow relation.
 2. The water supply system ofclaim 1, wherein said ancillary water meters for each dwelling unit arebuilt together into one unitary assembly..
 3. The water supply system ofclaim 1, wherein said ancillary water meters are grouped together inpairs, each pair of ancillary water meters including a cold water meterand a hot water meter for a single dwelling unit.
 4. The water supplysystem of claim 3, wherein there is one pair of ancillary water metersfor each dwelling unit; each pair of water meters being physicallypositioned at the main source of the hot and cold water supply to theassociated dwelling unit
 5. The water supply system of claim 2, whereineach ancillary water meter has a visual readout; each visual readoutcomprising a viewing window for displaying the hot or cold waterconsumed by the associated individual unit.
 6. The water supply systemof claim 1, wherein the ancillary water meters are physically groupedtogether in pairs in close proximity to a dwelling unit where practical.7. The water supply system of claim 1, wherein the apartment buildinghas a basement, and the ancillary water meters are physically groupedtogether therein, where practical.
 8. The water supply system of claim1, wherein the apartment building has a roof and the ancillary watermeters are physically grouped together thereon, where practical.
 9. Thewater supply system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary water meters arephysically grouped together in the basement of the building, wherepractical
 10. The water supply system of claim 6, wherein said ancillarywater meters are positioned together in pairs, each pair of ancillarywater meters incorporating a cold water meter and a hot water meter foran associated single dwelling unit.
 11. The water supply system of claim8, and further comprising a hot water header connecting each said hotwater supply conduit to said water heater, and a cold water headerconnecting each said cold water supply conduit to said main waterheater. 12 The water supply of claim 11, wherein said ancillary watermeters for each dwelling unit are built together into one unitaryassembly; each said assembly comprising a vertically oriented inlet pipeand a vertically oriented outlet pipe for the cold water meter, and avertically oriented inlet pipe and a vertically oriented pipe for thehot water meter.
 13. The water supply system claim 11, wherein saidancillary water meters for each dwelling unit are built together intoone unitary assembly; each said assembly comprising a horizontallyoriented inlet pipe and a horizontally oriented outlet pipe for the coldwater meter, and a horizontally oriented inlet pipe and a horizontallyoriented outlet pipe for the hot water meter.